Great conjunction

[GrahamPlatt]

Dec 21st. Nearest together for 800 years. Visible in one field of a decent telescope.

https://www.space.com/jupiter-saturn-gr ... ction-2020

[seekingbalance]

Even better, visible in one field of view in a not so decent telescope!

[GoSeigen]

Even better, visible in one field of view in a not so decent telescope!

Aye but that's easy!

I have such a crumby telescope that it doesn't even exist -- I can see all the stars and planets in my field of view....

[swill453]

Here's an image depicting how they are converging



https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advi ... er-saturn/

Scott.

[seekingbalance]

Nice image. It is a shame the conjunction is so soon after sunset and so low in the sky. It may be difficult for many to see - even in the off chance we don't have a cloudy or foggy night, which from my own personal history for these sorts of event we are absolutely guaranteed to have!

[seekingbalance]

I have such a crumby telescope that it doesn't even exist -- I can see all the stars and planets in my field of view....

A very true statement - but not quite the same as seeing the Spot on Jupiter and the Bands of Saturn, plus potentially as many as 4 moons, none of which you'd see with the naked eye.

I think it will be interesting from a rarity point of view even by naked eye, but at the very least needs binoculars to elevate it to impressive.

I am certainly hoping for a clear night and will set up my 6" 'scope and hope for the best. Pics would be nice, but my own are usually very disappointing!

[scottnsilky]

An article in a weekend newspaper mentioned this conjunction could have been the basis for the story of the Star of Bethlehem which led the 3 wise men to the barn(?) where Jesus was born. The obvious question is, was there such a conjunction round about the year we know now as 1AD? I would be quite interested to know that.

If the astronomical software can tell us it happened in 1226, presumably it can tell us if it happened 2000 or so years ago.

[AJC5001]

An article in a weekend newspaper mentioned this conjunction could have been the basis for the story of the Star of Bethlehem which led the 3 wise men to the barn(?) where Jesus was born. The obvious question is, was there such a conjunction round about the year we know now as 1AD? I would be quite interested to know that.

If the astronomical software can tell us it happened in 1226, presumably it can tell us if it happened 2000 or so years ago.

Is this any use? https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/what-was-the-star-of-bethlehem/

There was a Sky at Night programme on this subject as well, but it isn't currently available on iPlayer.

Adrian

[Bubblesofearth]

Nice image. It is a shame the conjunction is so soon after sunset and so low in the sky. It may be difficult for many to see - even in the off chance we don't have a cloudy or foggy night, which from my own personal history for these sorts of event we are absolutely guaranteed to have!

If it's not possible to see live then this may be an alternative;

https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2020/10 ... -dec-2020/

BoE

[scotview]

Think I got Saturn and Jupiter about half an hour ago, NE Scotland. Does that look right ? (first time posting an image so hope it works).

Position shown by "Sky map" app.

[malkymoo]

Congratulations, nice picture. Think it appears upside-down, the smaller Saturn should be above and to the left of Jupiter.

I managed to spot the conjunction about the same time as you, Gloucestershire. I have trying to spot it for the last week or so, but it has been cloudy every night. Last night we had a thunderstorm about 5pm, so I thought that was it for another night, but the clouds cleared away from the West to give a clear sky for about a quarter of an hour.

[JohnB]

I showed Mum it tonight, as it will be cloudy in London tomorrow. I look forward to the photos with moons and rings people with good telescopes should have in the same field of view.

[AleisterCrowley]

I'm strolling down to the Kennet later (less light pollution)

SW is it ? 6.30 ish?

[scotview]

Got a better photo capture tonight, just after sunset. Saturn to the left, you can just make out the rings, Jupiter to the right.
I think last night's photo was a couple of stars higher up from the horizon. Pleased I got this one tonight !!

[swill453]

This is the best I could get with my handheld compact camera



Scott.

[GoSeigen]

Got a better photo capture tonight, just after sunset. Saturn to the left, you can just make out the rings, Jupiter to the right.
I think last night's photo was a couple of stars higher up from the horizon. Pleased I got this one tonight !!

Nice capture. If you sharpen up the image you can clearly see the individual rings.

GS

[GrahamPlatt]

I'm strolling down to the Kennet later (less light pollution)

SW is it ? 6.30 ish?

Tomorrow

[AleisterCrowley]

But it's not sudden is it , they are getting closer every night (as in photos upthread)
I had a look SW and couldn't see anything

[kiloran]

I'm strolling down to the Kennet later (less light pollution)

SW is it ? 6.30 ish?

This should help you. Better if you set your location (top right)
https://www.heavens-above.com/skychart2 ... t=0&tz=GMT

--kiloran

[Lootman]

I'm strolling down to the Kennet later (less light pollution)

SW is it ? 6.30 ish?

This should help you. Better if you set your location (top right)
https://www.heavens-above.com/skychart2 ... t=0&tz=GMT

It can also help to know that all the planets appear to follow the trajectory of the sun across the sky, known as the ecliptic:

"Most of the major bodies of the Solar System orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane. This is likely due to the way in which the Solar System formed from a protoplanetary disk. Probably the closest current representation of the disk is known as the invariable plane of the Solar System. Earth's orbit, and hence, the ecliptic, is inclined a little more than 1° to the invariable plane, Jupiter's orbit is within a little more than ​1⁄2° of it, and the other major planets are all within about 6°. Because of this, most Solar System bodies appear very close to the ecliptic in the sky."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic# ... lar_System

Jupiter is normally easy to spot anyway as it is the brightest celestial object after the sun, the moon and Venus. Although low in the sky it will appear less bright than normal.